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When I get a hot tip on a great cheese steak, I follow up. Without hesitation.

A year-old strip mall shop in the distant southeast quadrant of the Valley, Hank’s Philly Steaks has a nice, clean setup and a minimal menu focused on Philadelphia-style goodness. You might be tempted to forsake the sandwiches altogether for the mythical beast known as the panzarotti ($5.95), sort of a deep-fried calzone, but as tasty as an inside-out pizza can be, I’m here for a cheese steak.

I opt for the Philly Joe ($7), a half-and-half blending tangy Cheez Whiz with an American cheese sauce for gooey, guilt-inducing results. The steak is bigger here, more like old-school, Steak-umm-style slices than the thin shreds served by most shops around town. The roll is righteously chewy, determined to hold this delicious mess together. It’s a little bit different, but Hank’s Philly hits the spot, which is why you always follow up.